Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pelota | /peˈlota/ | feminine |
| balón | /baˈlon/ | masculine |
| bola | /ˈbola/ | feminine |
The terms all refer to an object that is generally spherical and used for playing games.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the size and nature of the object. balón is typically used for larger, inflated balls used in sports like soccer or basketball. In contrast, bola often refers to a solid sphere or a ball that is not necessarily used for sports, such as a ball of yarn or a bowling ball.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, a basketball is sometimes called pelota de baloncesto. In some Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Argentina, a soccer ball is often referred to as pelota de fútbol.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural forms are pelotas for the feminine pelota, balones for the masculine balón and bolas for the feminine bola.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of pelota is /peˈlota/.
Did you know?
- The word balón is a 'magnified' version of bala, which means 'bullet'. This is because the suffix -ón is often used in Spanish to denote a larger version of an object.
- The word bola is a doublet of bula, which refers to a papal bull, and bolla, as both originate from the Latin word bulla meaning a bubble or seal.
- The word pelota is the name of a traditional Basque sport, pelota, which is played by hitting a ball against a wall with a hand or a racket.
Examples in context
- Tom pateó la pelota.Tom kicked the ball.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of pelota.Tatoeba #1296938 by marcelostockle, translation #1024637 by CK
- Lánzale la bola a él.Toss him the ball.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of bola.Tatoeba #5889608 by albrusgher, translation #3905190 by CH
- El balón salió fuera.The ball went out.This sentence is useful for seeing the use of balón.Tatoeba #10159002 by Shishir, translation #10386977 by DJ_Saidez
- Juguemos con el balónLet's play with the ball
- Tira la bolaThrow the ball
- Vamos a jugar al fútbol con el balón.Let's play soccer with the ball.
- Me encanta jugar con la pelota en el parque.I love playing with the ball in the park.
- ¿Dónde está la bola que te regalé?Where is the ball I gave you?
- 140 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are playing in the park.
- SofíaMateo, ¿tienes la pelota?Mateo, do you have the ball?
- MateoNo, creo que Sofía la tiene.No, I think Sofía has it.
- Sofía¡Aquí está la pelota!Here is the ball!
- Mateo¡Lánzala ahora!Throw it now!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ball” translations and entries pelota, balón, bola, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries balón, bola, pelota, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
